Terms of service & Confidentiality
Terms of Service...
Sessions are normally held at 308 Nelson Rd Para Vista
Home visits can be negotiated - please talk to James about this.
Counselling is usually only available for adults from the age of 18 and up.
Session costs can be paid either by cash or direct deposit at least 12hrs prior to session - credit card and cheques not accepted.
Our initial contract will usually run for 6 sessions either weekly or fortnightly,
after which we will review the counselling process and negotiate further sessions if required.
Healing Hearts is fully insured.
Email/telephone contact...
Email or telephone contact will be limited to practical arrangements only. I will not enter into telephone or email counselling except by prior arrangement. In a life-threatening situation, call 000 without delay.
Ending counselling...
Normally, the end of counselling would be by mutual prior agreement. However, you have the right to end your counselling at any time. If at any time I feel that our counselling is no longer appropriate for you, I will discuss this with you and may suggest discontinuation or a referral to a more appropriate service.
Referrals...
As per Australian guidelines and ACA guidelines, I may advise that you be referred on to another counsellor if I feel that I cannot effectively help you or if I feel that the counselling relationship will not be helpful to your situation. This would not constitute any reflection on you in a negative way. Sometimes the counsellor is not a good fit for the client.
Confidentiality...
Everything you share with me in the course of our work together will be treated as highly confidential. However, there are a few circumstances in which I may be required to break confidentiality:
If I consider you to be at risk of seriously harming yourself or someone else, or if your counselling records have been requested by a court of law, or if another party or agency has requested your information, and you have agreed and provided written consent to this. Counsellors are required by law to report suspected child abuse or any client involvement in serious past crime or future crime.
As required by ACA, James undergoes supervised mentoring by registered supervisors approved and registered through ACA, personal details of clients are not discussed, confidentiality is maintained.
Record keeping...
I usually take notes during or after each session to help me keep track of our progress together. These notes will be stored in a private and secure location and may be viewed by you if you so wish. Your counselling records will be kept by Healing Hearts for a period of seven (7) years from the date of your last contact with Healing Hearts as per Australian Law.
